A nun, collapsed on the ground.
Normally, Jeanne Alter would steer clear of religious personnel like her life depended on it. Hatred for the Church and its God was central to her very existence, and she intended to keep that flame of resentment burning until this body of hers crumbled into ashes.
In a world like this, one genuinely inhabited by God and His angels, her aversion to anything Church-related was stronger than ever.
But this time was different.
Though she'd barely watched half an episode of the anime, Jeanne knew bits of the story… Around this time, a rather pitiful young nun was supposed to arrive in Kuoh.
As far as she remembered, the nun had been unwillingly elevated by the Church to the status of a saint, only to later be condemned as a witch and cast out. Following that betrayal, she was taken in by the fallen angels and brought to Kuoh.
Jeanne couldn't quite recall the nun's name or the exact reasons behind her being labeled a witch.
But the girl's tragic circumstances intrigued her deeply.
Suddenly labeled a saint, then branded a witch—why did that story sound painfully familiar? The only major difference was this particular nun hadn't ended up burned at the stake.
Should I praise the Church? After so many centuries, they've finally made a tiny bit of progress?
Ha, as if.
Rather than offering empty praise, Jeanne Alter would much rather give them something tangible—like sending them straight to meet their precious God. After all, they adored Him so much.
But anyway… approaching this girl could be interesting. Especially if she truly was the pitiful nun from Jeanne's vague memories.
And because of some butterfly effect she herself seemed to have caused, Hyoudou Issei had never encountered the fallen angel girlfriend who was supposed to kill him. He'd never become a devil, either. Given the circumstances, it seemed likely that this nun might end up killed, her [Sacred Gear] stolen.
Since she'd caused this ripple as the proverbial butterfly flapping its wings, Jeanne felt obligated to take some responsibility.
Thus, the biggest problem now was… How exactly should she approach her?
This nun, devout as she was, would never abandon her faith in God—even after the Church branded her a witch and expelled her. If Jeanne casually badmouthed God in front of her, it'd almost certainly end badly, right?
"What should I do…?"
Jeanne Alter frowned deeply, wrestling with her thoughts.
...
"Auuu… why did I have to fall down…?"
The nun, Asia Argento, slowly pushed herself up, holding back tears as she gently touched where she'd been hurt.
Asia was extremely anxious, feeling like a fish pulled out of water. Everything here was so unfamiliar, and she didn't even know anyone she could talk to.
"Ahhh… Lord, please have mercy upon me."
All she could do was pray to God.
Without friends or any care from others, as long as she had her prayers, she could survive. As long as she had God's love, she would be alright.
"Are you alright, Sister?"
A soft voice interrupted her prayers, brushing past her ears like a gentle spring breeze blowing over a green meadow.
Before Asia even opened her eyes, just hearing that soothing voice painted an image of a woman with the gentle smile of the Holy Mother.
When she slowly raised her gaze, Asia saw a beautiful girl with long silver-white hair standing quietly before her, watching her with eyes as tender as an autumn lake.
Sunlight spilled over the girl's shoulders from behind, enveloping her in a halo of brilliance.
Maybe I'm so hungry I'm hallucinating… Gazing at the girl holding out a hand to help her, Asia felt she was looking at an angel come to guide her to Heaven.
Surely, someone like this girl… would be far more suitable than herself for the title of "Saint," wouldn't she?
"I… I'm fine."
Intimidated by the gentle radiance of the girl before her, Asia timidly lowered her gaze.
"Is that so? That's wonderful. Thanks be to God, may His glory shine forever, guiding the lost from confusion to the path of righteousness."
Honestly… Jeanne Alter felt like vomiting.
She'd merely imitated that infuriatingly holy Jeanne's tone and mannerisms from memory, but she'd severely underestimated how her spiritual core rejected any mention of God—and severely overestimated her own tolerance.
Asia's eyes sparkled with gratitude… She truly hadn't expected, after being cast out of her home, to encounter someone as kind and devout as herself.
As Jeanne gently helped Asia to her feet, the nun was about to thank her again when a mischievous gust of wind swept through at the worst possible moment.
"Ah!"
Asia cried out in surprise as the wind snatched her veil, revealing the long golden hair beneath it.
Hair as radiant as sunlight itself… just like that boring saint, Jeanne thought reflexively.
The playful wind tried to whisk Asia's veil away, but Jeanne caught it in mid-air, rescuing the cloth from the breeze.
Seems like even the wind is into cute nuns.
"Are you traveling, Sister?"
"Ah, n-no, that's not it…"
Faced with Jeanne's gentle smile, Asia nervously took back her veil and shyly explained, "Actually… I came to this town because I was assigned to the church here… but I ran into trouble the moment I arrived. I don't speak Japanese very well, and I don't know exactly where the church is, so… um… I got lost…"
A church? There was a church in Kuoh?
This was a town managed by devils… Rias and her peerage clearly weren't doing their jobs properly.
If Jeanne had known about a church here, she would've reduced that disgusting building to ashes a long time ago.
"Grrr~"
A strange noise suddenly interrupted Jeanne's thoughts. Glancing down, she noticed Asia's flushed cheeks as she shyly lowered her head in embarrassment.
The sound had been Asia's stomach.
"Auu…"
Asia whimpered cutely, her embarrassment obvious enough to make Jeanne smile despite herself.
"Let's grab something to eat first, shall we? I'm a bit hungry myself."
"But…"
Though Jeanne invited her, Asia hesitated, worried about imposing on a stranger. She was almost too gentle for her own good—Jeanne knew firsthand how hard it was for someone like that to survive alone in society.
If no one looked after such a person, the tides of fate would drag them along helplessly, perhaps luckily meeting someone genuinely kind—though it was far more likely they'd be used by someone malicious.
Jeanne's concern for Asia deepened a bit more, her smile unconsciously growing warmer and more sincere. Unaware of her own shifting expression, she clapped her hands lightly and made a suggestion.
"I have a little sister waiting at home. How about you join us for dinner first? Afterward, I'll help you find the church… Of course, this is just an offer. You're free to decline if you don't want to."
"N-no! It's not that… I mean, I'd be glad to…"
Asia hurriedly waved her hands, flustered but touched by Jeanne's invitation. Such genuine kindness, warm like sunlight on an old castle wall, rendered her unable to refuse.
Accepting Jeanne's invitation, Asia clasped her hands together again, quietly praying in gratitude.
"Ah, merciful Lord… Thank you for allowing me to meet someone so kind and devout in this foreign land."
With eyes closed in prayer, Asia didn't see the cracks forming in Jeanne Alter's serene expression.
Jeanne Alter: I'm really cracking here—insert Chaldea-level curse word!
"And thank you as well."
Asia gazed at Jeanne with eyes full of earnest gratitude, as though engraving the girl's image into her memory. "Really… thank you so very much for helping me when I felt so lost… May God's blessings always be with you."
If only you'd left out the last part, maybe I'd actually enjoy your thanks.
If God really did notice me, wouldn't He immediately strike me down?
After all, I'm nothing but a witch…
"My name is Asia Argento."
Asia smiled innocently. "Please, call me Asia!"
"My name is…"
Jeanne paused briefly before finishing her sentence, a deep gleam suddenly flickering in her golden eyes.
Her smile widened, becoming subtly mysterious as she slowly spoke.
"My name is Jeanne. Just call me Jeanne."
"Je… Jeanne?"
Asia's eyes widened dramatically—exactly as Jeanne expected.
"Jeanne… as in… Saint Jeanne?!"
To share the very name of that legendary saint… Asia was astonished. Yet, as she stared in disbelief, Jeanne's gentle smile gained a troubled edge.
"A saint… is too much praise. All I ever did was follow God's voice and do what I believed necessary. I'm nothing special."
"H-huh?!"
Asia's brain momentarily froze, overwhelmed by the implication behind those words.
That couldn't possibly be true… right?!
Jeanne tilted her head, eyes softening like calm waters, deepening Asia's confusion.
"S-Saint… Jeanne…?"
"No need to be so formal. Just call me Jeanne."
Jeanne gently took Asia's hand, her soft fingertips brushing lightly against Asia's skin.
"Before I ever stepped onto the battlefield, I was just an ordinary girl from Orléans. I truly believe anyone else in my position could've done the same. I just happened to hear God's call and happened to stand up…"
Jeanne shook her head slightly, a wistful smile on her lips. "That glory should belong to everyone who was brave and kind… But Gilles and the others never listened, always calling me a saint…"
The sincerity in Jeanne's voice deeply moved Asia, leaving her utterly speechless.
Questions filled Asia's mind, but she dared not voice them, afraid of disrespecting this saintly girl… She hardly dared to breathe.
"Come now, dinner won't make itself."
Jeanne gently pulled the stunned Asia along. Her urgency was because she feared she'd vomit if this continued!
Tonight, three sets of tableware sat ready—now welcoming Asia, the little nun.
All the while, Jeanne desperately resisted the nauseating urge rising inside her, questioning how that other Jeanne could spout such nonsense without gagging.
Is she insane?!
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T/N: oohhhhh so Jeanne Alter isn't acting she's letting Jeanne take control...? hmmm idk how alters work